Environmental Impact of Growing Cotton

Growing cotton can take a heavy toll on the environment. It can also have a negative impact on the health of the people who grow it. In the United States, commercial cotton farming uses about three percent of farmland but consumes 25 percent of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Toxic runoff from chemicals poison the air, soil, ground and surface water.

Purchasing items made with organic or recycled cotton are ways that you can help the environment.